Rolling bearing with a rotation sensor

ABSTRACT

The object is to protect the output cables of the magnetic sensor from damages and, at the same time, to make the process of drawing out the output cables easier. 
     A tubular duct  9   a  for output cables  12  is formed integrally with a sensor housing  9,  provided with an opening  14  having a uniform width from the proximal end to the distal end of the duct  9   a  on the side face thereof. The output cables  12  are put through the duct  9   a  from this opening  14,  and then a slidable lid  15  is mounted to close the opening  14.  Thus damage to the output cables  12  connected to a magnetic sensor  7  is prevented and, at the same time, drawing the output cables  12  outside the sensor housing  9  is made easier.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a rolling bearing with a rotation sensor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A rolling bearing with a rotation sensor is sometimes used for supporting a rotation shaft in a variety of devices to detect its rotational speed (number of revolutions). This rolling bearing with a rotation sensor has an annular magnetic encoder alternately polarized in different magnetic poles in the circumferential direction and mounted on one of the inner and outer races of the bearing that is rotatable. A sensor housing incorporating a magnetic sensor for detecting the change of the magnetic flux when the encoder rotates is mounted on the other stationary race to detect the rotation of the rotating race. A circuit board for processing the output of the magnetic sensor is often mounted in the sensor housing.

In many cases, such a sensor housing for a rolling bearing with a rotation sensor is made of a resin, and mounted on the stationary race through a metal outer ring. Among those resin sensor housings, some have a tubular duct formed integrally with the housing so that output cables of the magnetic sensor, which are connected to the circuit board in the sensor housing and drawn out of the housing, will not be damaged or broken by shearing or other forces (e.g. Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1: JP 2002-213472A DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention

In the rolling bearing with a rotation sensor described in the Patent Document 1, the output cables of the magnetic sensor can be protected from damage. But the output cables connected to the circuit board inside the sensor housing have to be drawn outside through the tubular duct, and this is a laborious process.

The object of this invention is therefore to protect the output cables of the magnetic sensor from damages and, at the same time, to make the process of drawing out the output cables easier.

Means for Achieving the Object

To achieve the above-mentioned object, this invention provides a rolling bearing with a rotation sensor comprising an inner race, an outer race, wherein one of the inner and outer races is a rotating race, and the other is a stationary race, an annular magnetic encoder polarized alternately in different magnetic poles in a circumferential direction and mounted on the rotating race, a magnetic sensor for detecting change of magnetic flux when the magnetic encoder rotates, and a resin sensor housing incorporating the magnetic sensor therein and mounted on the stationary race, the resin sensor housing being integrally formed with a tubular duct through which output cables of the magnetic sensor extend to outside, characterized in that an opening is provided in a side face of the tubular duct to extend from its proximal to distal ends, and that the rolling bearing further comprises a lid, wherein with the output cables put through the duct from the opening, the lid can be mounted to the duct to close the opening.

In this invention, the opening extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tubular duct is provided on the side face of the tubular duct. The output cables are put through the duct from this opening, and then the lid is mounted to close the opening. Thus damage to the output cables of the magnetic sensor is prevented and, at the same time, drawing the output cables outside the sensor housing is made easier.

The opening of the duct can be closed more easily by configuring that the opening of the tubular duct has a uniform width from the proximal end to the distal end thereof so that the lid is to be mounted in the opening by sliding from the distal end to the proximal end thereof.

Effect of the Invention

In the rolling bearing with a rotation sensor of this invention, the sensor housing is integrally formed with the tubular duct having an opening formed in the side face thereof to extend from its proximal to distal ends. The output cables are put through the duct from this opening, and then the lid is mounted to close the opening. Thus damage to the output cables of the magnetic sensor is prevented and, at the same time, drawing the output cables outside the sensor housing is made easier.

The opening of the duct can be closed more easily by making the opening of the duct extend with a uniform width from the proximal end to the distal end of the duct so that the lid is mounted in the opening by sliding it from the distal end to the proximal end thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a rolling bearing with a rotation sensor embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3( a) and 3(b) are perspective views showing how the output cables are put through the duct of the sensor housing of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERALS

1 Inner race

2 Outer race

3 Ball

4 Retainer

5 Seal member

6 Magnetic encoder

6 a Core

6 b Magnetic body

7 Magnetic sensor

8 Circuit board

9 Sensor housing

9 a Duct

10 Outer ring

10 a Seal portion

11 Side ring

12 Output cable

13 Mold resin

14 Opening

15 Lid

15 a Protruded portion

16 Groove

16 a Inner end

BEST MODE FOR EMBODYING THE INVENTION

The embodiment of this invention is now described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the rolling bearing with a rotation sensor of the embodiment is a deep groove ball bearing comprising an inner race 1, which is rotatable, an outer race 2, which is stationary, and balls 3 provided between the inner and outer races and retained by a retainer 4. A magnetic encoder 6 is mounted on one side of the inner race 1, and a sensor housing 9, receiving magnetic sensors 7 and a circuit board 8, is mounted on the one side of the outer race 2 facing to the magnetic encoder 6. On the other side of the outer race 2, which is axially opposite to the sensor housing 9, a seal member 5 is mounted to seal the interior of the bearing.

The magnetic encoder 6 comprises an annular core 6 a and a magnetic body 6 b polarized alternately in different magnetic poles in the circumferential direction, the core 6 a being fitted around the inner race 1.

The sensor housing 9 is made of a polymer alloy which comprises polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) mixed with polyamide (PA) and polyimide (PI), and covered with an outer ring 10 and a side ring 11, which are formed by pressing SUS 403, a magnetic ferrite stainless steel plate, to shut out external harmful magnetic field and to prevent corrosion. The sensor housing 9 is pressed in the outer ring 10, which is fitted in the outer race 2. On the inner end of the outer ring 10, a seal portion 10 a is formed, sealing the interior of the bearing.

The polymer alloy forming the sensor housing 9, which comprises PPS mixed with PA and PI, has a higher glass transition temperature than PPS alone. This reduces slack that may occur between the sensor housing 9 and the outer ring 10, in which the sensor housing 9 is press-fitted, along with temperature decrease from a high temperature, thus reducing creep caused by temperature change.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the magnetic sensors 7 are provided at two circumferentially adjacent locations facing the magnetic encoder 6 in the radial direction. The magnetic sensors 7 are connected to the circuit board 8 through legs 7 a. Output cables 12 of the magnetic sensors 7 connected to the circuit board 8 run outside through a duct 9 a which is formed integrally with the sensor housing 9. The magnetic sensors 7, the circuit board 8 and the output cables 12 inside the sensor housing 9 are fixed in position in a mold resin 13. The two magnetic sensors 7 are located adjacently in the circumferential direction to detect the direction of rotation from the time delay between detection outputs of these two magnetic sensors 7.

The duct 9 a of the sensor housing 9 is, as shown in FIG. 3( a), provided with an opening 14. The output cables 12 are put inside the duct 9 a from this opening 14 and then a lid 15 is put on the opening 14. The lid 15 is formed of the same polymer alloy as the sensor housing 9. Protruded portions 15 a are provided on both sides of the lid 15. With the protruded portions 15 a inserted in grooves 16 formed respectively on both sides of the opening 14 from its distal end, the lid 15 is slid toward the proximal end of the duct 9 a until the protruded portions 15 a are pressed against the inner ends 16 a of the grooves 16 to close the opening 14.

A caulking agent such as silicon is then filled in the clearance around the output cables 12 in the duct 9 a near its distal end. Thermosetting molding resin 13 such as epoxy resin and urethane resin is filled inside the sensor housing 9 including the duct 9 a, and the lid 15 is bonded to the sensor housing 9.

The rolling bearing of the embodiment describe above is a deep groove ball bearing with a rotatable inner race. But the rolling bearing according to this invention may be a different type of rolling bearing such as a roller bearing. This invention can be applied also to a rolling bearing in which the outer race is rotational. In this case, the magnetic encoder of the rotation sensor is provided on the outer race and the sensor housing incorporating the magnetic sensor is mounted on the inner race. 

1. A rolling bearing with a rotation sensor comprising an inner race, an outer race, wherein one of said inner and outer races is a rotating race, and the other is a stationary race, an annular magnetic encoder polarized alternately in different magnetic poles in a circumferential direction and mounted on said rotating race, a magnetic sensor for detecting change of magnetic flux when said magnetic encoder rotates, and a resin sensor housing incorporating said magnetic sensor therein and mounted on said stationary race, said resin sensor housing being integrally formed with a tubular duct through which output cables of said magnetic sensor extend to outside, characterized in that an opening is provided in a side face of said tubular duct to extend from its proximal to distal ends, and that said rolling bearing further comprises a lid, wherein with said output cables put through said duct from the opening, said lid can be mounted to said duct to close said opening.
 2. The rolling bearing with a rotation sensor according to claim 1 wherein said opening of the tubular duct has a uniform width from the proximal end to the distal end thereof, and wherein said lid is configured to be mounted in said opening by sliding from the distal end to the proximal end thereof. 